RIGHT TO INFORMATION QUESTIONS
UNIT-1
1) Historical development of RTI Act 2005 in India.
2) International Conventions on RTI
(OR)
Role of International Covenants in promoting RTI.
3)”Free exchange of ideas is the basic pillars of a democracy”. How can RTI Act
2005 achieve the above said goal?
4) Discuss Important decisions of Supreme court on RTI Act 2005.
5) Discuss the Importance of RTI with decided cases.
6) Constitutional basis for the RTI Act,2005 with decided cases.
7) Constitutional provisions and judicial trend that prevailed before the enactment
of the RTI Act 2005 in India.
8) RTI ensures an efficient and transparent administration in a democratic country.
Justify.
9)”Free flow of information is necessary requirement of democracy and good
governance”.- Eladuciate.
10) RTI is an embedded Fundamental Right under Indian Constitution. Discuss
with the help of decided cases.
11) Explain how RTI fulfills Abraham Lincoln’s definition “ the democracy is
government by the people, for the people and of the people”.
12) Origin and development of RTI with decided cases.
13) ‘Sunlight is the best disinfectant’. Discuss this statement with help of decided
cases by Supreme Court on Right to Information.
SHORT NOTES
1) Manzdoor Kissan Shakti Sangath
2) International conventions and RTI.
3)jan sunvai
4)Jan kari system in Bihar
5)Judiciary and RTI.
6)Democracy and RTI.
7)RTI under Article 19(1)(a) of Indian constitution.
UNIT-2
1) What is meant by information? What information are exempted from
disclosure?
2) Explain RTI with respect to third party information.
3) What is voluntary disclosure? Explain the obligation of public authority to
provide information.
4) What is Public Authority? State it’s obligations with reference to section 4 & 5
of RTI Act,2005.
5) Exemptions from disclosure of information provided under Sec.8 to 11 of RTI
Act 2005 are not absolute. Discuss with the help of decided cases.
6) Who can seek information from Public Authorities? Explain the procedure for
disposal of application for information.
7) Salient Features of RTI Act, 2005.
8)” All public authorities have to ordinarily disclose information sought by
applicant”. State its exceptions.
9) Explain the procedure to obtain information and disposal of information under
RTI Act,2005.
10) “Public Authority also includes any authority substantially financed by
Appropriate Government under RTI Act, 2005”. Explain.
11) Procedure for disposal of requests under RTI Act,2005.
12) Procedure to get information and the obligation of public authorities to provide
information with decided cases.
13) what are the Programmes prepared by the Appropriate Government to develop
and organize educational programme, encourage Public Authority etc under the
RTI Act,2005.
SHORT NOTES
1) Third party information.
2) Note on “severability”.
3) Separability.
4) Objects of RTI Act,2005.
5) Reasons for enactment of RTI Act,2005.
7) Responsibility of ‘Appropriate Government’ to propagate the RTI Act,2005.
9) Competent Authority.
UNIT-3
1) Explain the provisions relating to appointment of Information Commissioner
and their service conditions. Refer to cases.
2) Distinguish Appeal and Complaint. Examine the appeal mechanism provided
under RTI Act,2005.
3) Discuss the constitution, powers and obligations of the State Information
Commissioner.
4) Discuss the appointment, constitution, powers, terms and conditions of service
and Functions of Central Information Commissioner.
5) Explain the procedure for complaints and Appeals Under the RTI Act,2005.
6) Write a note on 1st Appellant Authority and Second Appeal.
7) Explain the Procedure for appeal and imposing penalties under the RTI
Act.2005.
8) Explain the qualifications and disqualifications of an information commissioner.
9) Provisions relating to Constitution of State Information Commisioner with
special reference to recent Amendment to the RTI Act,2005.
SHORT NOTES
1) Removal of chief information commissioner/ Information commissioner.
2) Appeal for spying.
3) Non- application of RTI Act to certain organisations.
4) Appeal Under RTI.
UNIT-4
1) Salient features of Public Record Act, 1993. Explain the power of Central
Government to make rules under it.
2) Explain the constitution and functions of Archival Advisory Board.
3) Salient Features of Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952.
4)Salient Features of Official Secrets Act, 1923.
5) Provisions relating to Constitution of powers and functions of Inquiry
Commission under the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952.
6) Explain the objectives of Official Secrets Act, 1923. How are these provisions
relevant in RTI Act,2005.
7) Explain the Objective of Public Records Act 1993. State power and
responsibilities of the Record Officer.
8) Explain the Objective of Official Secrets Act 1923? State its relevance after the
enactment of RTI Act,2005.
9) “Transparency is the rule and Secrecy is an exception”. Referring this statement
explain the relevance of the Officials Secret Act ,1923 and its salient provisions.
10) Punishments under Official Secret Act,1997.
11) Discuss various punishments provided under the Right to lnformation Act with
special reference to the power of the commission to award compensation.
SHORT NOTES
1) Freedom of information Act, 2002.
2) Archival Advisory Board.
3) Relevance of Official Secrets Act, 1923.
4) Explain the Commission of Inquiry Rules, 1972.
5” Defunct Body” under Punlic Record Rules,1997.
6) Classified Record.
7) Record.
8)Whistle Blower’s Protection Act, 2011.9) Role of Record Officer.
UNIT-5
1)Examine decisions of central information commission(’CIC’) on BSNL, income
Tax and state information commission(‘SIC’) decision on Police, Revenue and
Local Authorities.
OR
Discuss the Leading Cases of the central information commission on BSNL,
Income Tax and central excise department
2) What is meant by “Best Practices”? Is citizens Charter a Best Practice?
3) Quote some of the best practices adopted by the Central Information
Commission, State Information Commission and the Government for the effective
implementation of RTI Act, 2005.
4) What is Best practice? Bring up its relationship with good governance.
5) What are the good Practices adopted by the Government of Karnataka.
6) Explain the role of Supreme Court in declaring RTI as Fundamental Rights with
the help of Decided Cases.
7) What are the good Practices adopted by then CIC, SIC, Police and Revenue
Department?
8) Discuss the Supreme Court and High Court decisions on RTI.
9) Explain the CIC’s decisions on irrigation, Secretariat and police.
10) Explain 5 cases rendered by CIC on BSNL.
11) Explain 5 cases rendered by CIC on Scheduled Banks.
12) Can Appellant seek details of the DE notification of land from the Government
for a particular period?
13) Right to Know is the outcome of Judicial Activism. Explain.
14) Best practices Under Post and Telegraph Department.
SHORT NOTES
1) Role of mass media and RTI Act, 2005.
2) RTI & e-governance.
3) Explain the Best Practices adopted in Local Authorities.
4) Supreme Court & RTI.
5) RTI is mostly used as “Grievance Redressal Mechanism”- Comment.
6) RTI & Corruption.
7) Best Practices in the Revenue Department.
8) File Notings.
9)’Jan Kaari’ system in Bihar.
PROBLAMATIC QUESTIONS
1. 'P' asked for the details of annual expenditure incurred for each of the State
Legislature from the State Exchequer from the concerned authority. Can he
obtain such information and state the procedure.
2. Z' intends to file an application to the Lokayukta under the Right to
lnformation Act, 2005 seeking information regarding the total complaints
received and actions taken in disposing of complaints of corruptions and
irregularities in Public Authorities. Advice 'Z'.
3. A medical student got less marks in physiology in the examination
conducted by the Rajiv Gandhi Health Science University. He applies not
only for a photocopy of his physiology answer paper, but also a photocopy
of his friends answer scripts. ls he entitled to get it ?
4. 'A' filed an HTI application to a Housing Co-operative Society io provide the
list of site allottees. His application was rejected by the Housing Co-
operative Society stating it is a Co-operative Society not covered under the
RTI Act. 2005. Advice the applicant'.
5. 'A ‘seeks a detailed information from a PlO regarding a public servant
including his appointment, promotion, departmental enquiry against him,
medical expenses and diseases for which reimbursement was made by the
government. Will he succeed?
6. An application which sought copies of mark sheet, birth certificate, school
certificate etc of the candidates who were appointed to certain posts from a
public authority. His application was rejected by the Public information
Officer as third party information, personal in nature and no larger public
purpose is involved. Now applicant wants to file an appeal. Advise him.
7. An illiterate person wants to seek some information from a Public Authority.
He insists that the Public information Officer has to reduce his request in to
writing. ls Public information Officer bound to oblige ?
8. An applicant in his complaint requested the commission to impose penalty
on Public information Officer for non-supply of information within 30 days
and also to award damages to him for the loss suffered. Decide.
9. A research scholar of a University requests some 'classified and permanent
documents from state archives for research purpose" ls he entitled to get the
same?lf so, how ?
10.Raju has asked details of service of Shankar under Right to information Act.
Can he succeed?
11.An applicant filed an application before a public authority seeking some
information. The Public information Officer demanded a proof of citizenship
from the applicant. Advice the applicant.
12.A Commission as per the directions of Supreme Court investigated the
reasons for communal riot and submitted the reports of the same to the
supreme Court. 'A' Right to information activist made a request under the
Right to lnformation Act,2005, to furnish the information as to "Commission
Report". Discuss whether 'A' is entitled for above information.
13.'X' an R.T.l. Activist seeks information under Right to lnformation
Act,".2005. Before a bar association regarding number of complaints filed
against advocates and number of cases disposed against advocates who had
violated provisions under Advocates Act, 1961, from the year 2015 to 2018.
ls he entitled ?
14.An applicant in his complaint requested the commission to impose penalty
on Public lnformation Officer for non supply of information within thirty
days and also to award damages to him for the loss suffered. But that public
information officer was transferred from the post and he was no longer held
that post. Decide.
15.'Y' intends to seek information of the names of members of interview board
constituted for the purpose of selection and appointment for the post of
lecturers and professors. ls he entitled.
16.An applicant has requested the commission to impose penalty on public
information officer who has rejected the information sought by the applicant
regarding the service record o{ his wife who is a public servant. The
applicant needs the information to use it against her in divorce proceedings.
Decide.
17.Gururaj filed an application under RTl to get copies of answer scripts of his
son and his friend Ramesh. Can he succeed?
18.Raju filed Right to lnformation application to get the details of loan
borrowers in Co-operative Society, Kunigal. Can he succeed?
19.Shruthi filed an application to lncome Tax Department to get the income tax
returns filed by Triveni. Can she succeed?
20.Rajiv, a social worker, filed an application under RTI to get the information
of medical expenses of judges. Can he succeed?
21.Ramu filed an application before bank authorities to obtain the details of
properties and securities submitted by Shivaraj. Can he succeed?
22.A student sought the copy of his answer script from a university. university
supplied copy of his answer script concealing the identity of the valuator.
Student filed a complaint before the information commission for non-
disclosure of full information. Advise him.
23.'A' was an aspirant for the post of lnformation Commissioner but his name
was not favorably considered by the Committee. He has filed an RTI
application seeking information about the qualification, medical report and
the antecedents of the recently appointed lnformation Commissioners. Will
he succeed?
24.'A' filed a complaint to the Commission under Sec-18 of RTI Act against a
public information officer for non-disclosure of information within a
stipulated period. Upon perusal of the complaint the Commission directecd
the PlO to furnish information within 15 days. ls it valid ?
25.'A' filed an RTI application to a Public Authority seeking service records of
a public servant who happened to be his wife to establish his case in a
matrimonial suit. Will he succeed?
26.'A' has a plan to seek information from BBMP through filing an RTI
application for disclosure of approved building plan of a residential house of
another person. Can BBMP disclose such information?
27.An applicant sought names and addresses of rescued children from
Department of Women and Child Development (DWCD). Advice.
28.An applicant sought the information about the name, father’s name, religion
and caste of Superintendent of EPFO. Advice.
29.'A' asked for copies of the Bio-data and Medical reports of the candidates for
the post of Assistant Commissioners in Karnataka. Advice.
30.'A' who was admitted to Hospital as he was suffering from Kidney problem.
Doctor who examined "A" advised him to under-go surgery. 'B' brother of
'A' "having regard to "life" of 'A' made a request under RTl Act before the
said Hospital Authority to furnish the information as to educational,
professional experience of the doctor who conducting the said operation and
nature and quality of available instruments likely to be used for the said
operation. Discuss, whether ‘B’ is entitled to obtain above said information.
31."The Ramaswamy Commission as per the directions of Supreme Court
investigated the reasons for communal riots and submitted the reports of the
same before the Supreme Court. 'A' RTI activist made a request under RTI
Act, 2005 before the Supreme Court.to furnish the information as to
"Ramaswamy Commission Report". Discuss whether 'A' is entitled for
above information.
32.'A' RTI activist, under the Right to lnformation Act made request before the
Recovery officer, Debts Recovery Tribunal Bangalore to furnish the
information as to "How much of dues recovered during the year between
2014 to 2015. Whether the Recovery Officer (CPIO) DRT Bangalore has
obligation to provide the above information?
33.A student of Government First Grade college Kolar wants to marry his
junior in the college. He files an RTI application before the college for
disclosure of pass outs in a particular year.ls he entitled to information?
34.A medical student got less marks in Physiology in the examination
conducted by the Rajiv Gandhi Health Science University. He applies not
only for a photocopy of his physiology answer paper, but also a photocopy
of his friends answer script. ls he entitled ?
35.A student failed in his LL.B. examination files an application to the
concerned Public lnformation Officer to know the details of the valuer of his
paper. Can he obtain this information?
36.'P' had appeared for KPSC Probationary officers examination in 2013 along
with many other candidates. He successfully cleared the examination and
was called for interview. 'S' applied to the public authority for copies of
application and answer paper under RTI,2005. Advice.
37.'A' applied for the information regarding the total tax collection under
different heads and expenditure incurred by the city municipal council, of
Devanagar in the financial year 2014-15. The Public authority supplied the
information in reply. Advice 'A' as to next course of action.
38.An applicant filed an application before a public authority seeking some
information. The public information officer demanded a proof of citizenship
from the applicant. Advice the applicant.
39.An RTI application was filed before a housing co-operative society for
seeking some information. The society argued that it is not a Public
Authority. Decide.
40.An applicant intends to file an application under RTI before a public
authority to know the details of assets, income and details of the bank
accounts of a government employee. Advise him.
41.Can a voter file an RTI application before the SPLO of police Department
asking the antecedents of the contesting candidate for MLA of his
constituency?
42.Can a person who was not selected for a public post ask for the reasons of
his non-appointment through an RTI application?
43.A State Govt. appointed a sitting MLA as State Chief Information
Commissioner. Is it valid?
44.An RTI application was filed by 'X' before WIPRO software seeking i
information regarding its geographical operations, employee strength and
annual turnover. Will he succeed?
45.An applicant intends to file an application under Right to lnformation Act,
before a Competent Authority to know the details of assets, income and
details of investments and Bank Accounts of a Powerful Minister. Advice.
46.Z intends to file an application to the Lokayukta under Right to lnformation
Act, seeking information regarding the total complaints received and actions
taken in disposing of complaints of corruption and irregularities by public
authorities. Advice 'Z'.
47.'A' appeared for the civil services (Main) Examination, 2016. He cleared the
examination but not called for the interview. Advice 'A'.
48.‘P’ asked for the details of annual expenditure incurred for each of the state
legislators from the state exchequer from the concerned authority. Can he
obtain such information and state the procedure.
49.An illiterate person wants to seek some information from a public authority.
He insists that the public information officer has to reduce his request in to
writing. ls Public lnformation Officer bound to oblige?
50.Mr. 'X' filed a complaint to the commission against a public information
officer for non-disclosure of information" Commission rejected his
application with a direction to approach the first appellate authority. Advice
the complainant.
51.A research scholar of a university requests state archive for some 'classified
and permanent documents' for research purpose. ls he entitled to get the
same ?lf so, how ?
52.An applicant seeks information from a housing co-operative society
regarding the list of allottees of sites. The housing society refuses to divulge
information stating that it is not a public authority as per the Right to
lnformation Act. Advice the applicant.
53.Mr. 'Z' is a Government employee was admitted to Government Hospital at
chennai as he was suffering from some disease. ln the mean time, 'Z' setfled
his marriage with Miss 'Y 'which was to be held in December 2014. Miss
‘Y’ suspecting the health status of Mr. 'Z' made request to the said Hospital
under the RTI Act, 2005 to furnish information as to health status of Mr. 'Z'
and blood report out of test conducted out of the blood samples taken from
Mr.’Z’. The said Hospital in receipt of request of Miss 'Y', disclosed the
information that Mr. 'Z' was suffering from HIV (positive). Consequently,
'Z's marriage with Miss. 'Y' cancelled. Mr. 'Z’, feeling aggrieved, moved a
writ petition before Supreme Court declaring the disclosure of the above
information by the said Hospital authority is illegal. Discuss whether 'Z' will
succeed.
54.'A' obtained a patent right over the 'Long Life Battery' in the year 1994 from
the office of Patent Registration. 'B' a person on 15-12-2015 made a request
under the RTI Act before the office of Patent registration to furnish the
information as to specification of the above said Long Life Battery. Discuss,
whether 'B' will succeed in obtaining the above specification of the said
battery?
55.'A' made a request under the RTI Act, 2005 before the Bangalore
Development Authority to furnish information as to which are the survey
numbers situated at K.R. Puram Hobli, Bangalore East Taluk are acquired
by the BDA. Explain the obligation of the Bangalore Development
Authority to provide the above information.
56.Can a citizen obtain information about constructions between President of
India and the supreme court under article 124 (2) regarding appointment of
judges to the supreme Court ? Advice.
57.A citizen wants to know the antecedents of contesting members of
parliament from the election commission. Advice.
58.A, has filed an application to MUDA, Mysore to obtain information
regarding the allotment of sites (MUDA sites) to Politicians and
Government servants during 2012-13, 2013 - 14 and 2014 - 15. MUDA,
Mysore refused to divulge the information sought. Advice A.
59.Mr. Vinod made an application and sought information from the Govt. of
Karnataka regarding the reasons for the delay in filling up of vacancies in
various departments. The Government of Karnataka issued the reply in its
letter stating the reasons. Vinod filed another applications seeking more
detailed measure which the Government had initiated. The Competent
Authority rejected the reply. Advice Vinod.
60.'M' applied to the Ministry of Petroleum Affairs, Government of lndia
seeking information regarding the taxes and duties levied on the sale of
petrol and diesel at various levels from purchase of crude oil till the actual
sale of its products - i.e. petrol and diesel. The sale price is unreasonably
very high as compared to purchase price of crude oil. M therefore sought -
information details on this. Advice Mr. M.
61.Mr. 'A' is a retired officer of a Public Authority. He makes an RTI
Application requesting the Public Authority to supply certified copies of his
Annual Confidential reports and of his colleagues. Advise Public Authority.
62.Mr. Ramesh filed a complaint to the State lnformation Commission against a
Public lnformation Officer of K. R. Hospital, Mysore for non-disclosure of
lnformation. The commission rejected his application with a direction to
approach the first appellate Authority. Advise Mr. Ramesh.
63.An applicant filed an RTI application before the PlO, SBl, Vidyanagar,
Hubli seeking details of its customers who have taken loans for business
purpose. Can it be provided?
64.A filed an RTI application and requested the public authority to disclose
details regarding educational qualification, income, assets and liabilities,
PAN card and religion possessed by" a political leader. Advice him.
65.An applicant aggrieved by misreading and false information provided by the
PLO, filed a complaint before the state information commission and argued
that apart from imposing penalty on the PLO, wants suitable compensation
for the loss caused to him. Will he succeed?
66.The Karnataka state cricket Association rejected a request to furnish
information sought by an applicant on the ground that it is a society
registered under the societies registration Act and not a public authority.
Advice the applicant.
67.An applicant in his complaint requested the commission to impose penalty
on public information officer for non-supply of information within thirty
days and also to award damages to him for the loss suffered. Decide.
68.A public information officer who rejected an RTI application earlier,
subsequently appointed as first appellant authority of a department. Can he
decide that case as first appellate authority?
